Noted That Small Juveniles of C. Panamensis Show Bifurcate Spinelets at the Base of the Pelvic-Fin Spines Similar to the Distinctive Spination of C
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
click for previous page 40 FAO Species Catalogue Vol. 16 skull crests to the midline of the frontals. And Johnson and Keener (1984) noted that small juveniles of C. panamensis show bifurcate spinelets at the base of the pelvic-fin spines similar to the distinctive spination of C. cruentata. Serranus nigriculus Valenciennes was assigned to the synonymy of Epinephelus adscensionis by C.L. Smith (1971), but the dorsal- and anal-fin ray counts of Valenciennes’ syntypes (dorsal fin with IX spines and 14 rays; anal fin with III spines and 8 rays) would preclude such assignment. In the original description, Valenciennes (1828) says that the numbers of fin rays for E. nigriculus are the same as for Serranus catus (= E. guttatus), which he had just described; but this species has XI dorsal-fin spines. So it appears that Valenciennes had miscounted the dorsal-fin spines of his syntypes. Cephalopholis cyanostigma (Valenciennes, 1828) Fig. 79; PI. IIC,D SERRAN Cephal 19 Serranus cyanostigma Valenciennes in Cuv. and Val., 1828:359 (type locality: Java). Synonyms: Cephalopholis kendalli Evermann and Seale, 1907a:76, fig. 11 (type locality: Bacon, Luzon, Philippines). Cephalopholis xanthopterus Allen and Starck, 1975:246, fig. 1 (type locality: Alite Reef, Solomon Islands). FAO Names: En - Bluespotted hind; Fr - Vielle étoiles bleues; Sp - Cherna de pintas azules. ADULT JUVENILE Fig. 79 Cehalopholis cyanostigma (adult 190 mm standard length, juvenile 93 mm standard length) Groupers of the World 41 Diagnostic Features: Body somewhat compressed, the width contained 2.0 to 2.3 times in the depth; depth less than head length, contained 2.6 to 3.0 times in standard length (for fish 8 to 23 cm standard length). Head length 2.3 to 2.6 times in standard length; interorbital area flat to slightly convex, its width subequal to eye diameter and maxilla width; preopercle rounded, finely serrate, the lower edge fleshy; subopercle and interopercle smooth or with a few serrae; upper edge of operculum very convex, the rear edge almost vertical; maxilla scaly, reaching well past eye. Gill rakers 7 to 9 on upper limb, 14 to 18 on lower limb. Dorsal fin with IX spines and 15 to 17 rays, the fin membrane indented between the spines; anal fin with III spines and 8 rays; pectoral-fin rays 15 to 18; pectoral fins distinctly longer than pelvic fins, pectoral-fin length contained 1.5 to 1.8 times in head length; pelvic fins usually not reaching anus, their length contained 1.8 to 2.1 times in head length; caudal fin well rounded. Body scales ctenoid, with a few auxiliary scales in adults: lateral-line scales 46 to 50; lateral-scale series 92 to 106. Colour: Adults brown to brownish red, with numerous small black-edged blue ocelli on head, body, and fins, those on head and chest larger and more distinctly black-edged than those on upper part of body, those on fins smaller (except basally on pectoral fins) and also distinctly black-edged (spots entirely dark in preservative, the ones on body faint); body often with dark chain-like bars; proximal half of pectoral fins coloured like body, the distal part orange-yellow with a blackish edge or white edge and black submarginal line; proximal two-thirds of pectoral fins with blue ocelli becoming smaller distally; median fins darker than body, the posterior margin bluish white with a submarginal blackish band. Juveniles with head, body, and pectoral fins dark brown, the other fins bright yellow; blue ocelli on head and front of body indistinct or absent. Geographical Distribution: Tropical western Pacific, including Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Palau, New Britain, Solomon Islands, and north coast of Australia from the Dampier Islands off Western Australia to the Capricorn Islands of the southern Great Barrier Reef (Fig. 80). Habitat and Biology: C. cyanostigma occurs on coral reefs and seagrass or algal beds at depths of 1 to 50 m. Like most groupers, it feeds on crustaceans and fishes. Size: Maximum total length 30 cm. Interest to Fisheries: Probably of importance to artisanal fisheries, Caught with hook-and-line, spear, and in traps. Local Names: AUSTRALIA: Bluespotted rock cod. Literature: Marshall (1964); Grant (1975); Schroeder (1980, as C. argus); Coleman (1981); Ran- dall and Heemstra (1991). Fig. 80 Remarks: The report of C. cyanostigma from Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean (Postel et al., 1963) is based on a misidentification of C. miniata. And the record from the South China Sea (Tan et al., 1982) is illustrated with a photograph of C. argus. The colour pattern of juveniles is quite different from that of adults, and this led Allen and Starck (1975) to describe the juvenile as a new species. Randall found a transitional specimen (with yellow fins and blue spots) and initially thought it might be a new species. Sometime later, he was photographing what he thought was C. xanthopterus, and when the photographs were developed, the characteristic blue spots of C. cyanostigma which were not seen on the fish underwater, were apparent on the photographs (revealed by the flash used for the photographs). 42 FAO Species Catalogue Vol. 16 Cephalopholis formosa (Shaw and Nodder, 1812) Fig. 81; PI. IIE SERRAN Cephal 12 Sciaena formosa Shaw and Nodder, 1812:23, pl. 1007 (type locality: Vizagapatam, Coromandel coast of India, after “Rahtee Bontoo” of Russell, 1803:22, pl. 129). Synonyms: None. FAO Names: En - Bluelined hind; Fr - Vielle lignes bleues; Sp - Cherna rayada Fig. 81 Cephalopholis formosa (174 mm standard length) Diagnostic Features: Body depth contained 2.5 to 2.9 times in standard length (for fish 10 to 26 cm standard length). Head length contained 2.4 to 2.6 times in standard length; preorbital depth 3.6 to 4.3% of standard length, more than half maxilla width; interorbital area convex; preopercle rounded, finely serrate, the lower edge fleshy; subopercle and interopercle smooth; maxilla naked, reaching to or just past vertical at rear edge of eye. Gill rakers 8 to 10 on upper limb, 14 to 18 on lower limb. Dorsal fin with IX spines and 15 to 17 rays, the membranes indented between the spines; anal fin with III spines and 8 (rarely 7) rays, the second spine 12.0 to 14.6% of standard length, not reaching past tip of third spine; pectoral-fin rays 16 to 18; pectoral fins usually longer than pelvic fins, pectoral-fin length contained 1.5 to 1.8 times in head length; pelvic fins reaching about to anus, their length contained 1.6 to 2.0 times in head length; caudal fin well rounded.Body scales ctenoid, without auxiliary scales; lateral-line scales 47 to 51; lateral-scale series 91 to 109. Colour: Dark brown to yellowish brown, with slightly irregular dark blue lines on head, body, and fins (those on body and fins sometimes absent); snout, lips, and ventral part of head and chest with small dark blue spots (blue markings become black inpreservative,and may be lost on some specimens, especially older museum material). Geographical Distribution: Like C. boenak, the distribution of C. formosa is primarily continental, and it seems to avoid atolls or oceanic islands. Reports of “Epinephelus formosus” from Mada- gascar (Sauvage, 1875), or Reunion and Mauritius (Bleeker, 1875) are prob- ably based on misidentifications of Cephalopholis polleni. It is known from Sri Lanka, and the Lakshadweep Is- lands; but there are no other reports from islands in the western Indian Ocean. It occurs from western India to Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, China, Taiwan, Japan (Honshu), and northern Australia (Fig. 82). Fig. 82 Habitat and Biology: Also like C. boe- nak, the preferred habitat of C. formosa is shallow dead or silty reefs. And this may account for the primarily continental distributions of these two species. Size: Maximum total length 34 cm. Groupers of the World 43 Interest to Fisheries: C.formosa is too small to be of commercial importance as a food fish. Caught with hook-and-line, traps, and in trawls. Local Names: INDIA: Bontoo (Telugu), Verri-cullawah (Tamil), Varianchamman (Lakshadweep islands); JAPAN: Aosujihata; SRI LANKA: Kangan kossa. Literature: Heemstra and Randall (1984, 1986); Randall and Heemstra (1991). Remarks: Following Boulenger (1895) most authors have confused C. formosa with C. boenak (e.g., Fowler and Bean, 1930; Munro, 1955; Katayama, 1988; Talwar and Kacker, 1984; Shen, 1984). These two species are distinguished in the account of C. boenak above. Cephalopholis fulva (Linnaeus, 1758) Fig. 83; Pls IIF, IIIA,B SERRAN Cephal 5 Labrus fulvus Linnaeus, 1758:287 (type locality: America, after Catesby). Synonyms: Perca punctata Linnaeus, 1758:291 (type locality: America, after Catesby). Holocentrus auratus Bloch, 1790:75 (type locality given erroneously as “East Indies”). Bodianus guativere Bloch and Schneider, 1801:336 (type locality: Cuba, after Parra). Gymnocephalus ruber Bloch and Schneider, 1801:346, pl. 67 (after Marcgrave, type locality: probably Brazil). Serranus ouatalibi Valenciennes in Cuv. and Val., 1828:381 (type locality: West Indies). Serranus carauna Valenciennes in Cuv. and Val., 1828:384 (after Marcgrave, type locality: probably Brazil). FAO Names: En - Coney; Fr - Cone ouatalibi; Sp - Cherna cabrilla. Fig. 83 Cephalopholis fulva (230 mm total length) Diagnostic Features: Body depth distinctly less than head length, depth contained 2.6 to 2.9 times in standard length (for fish 10 to 25 cm standard length). Head length contained 2.3 to 2.5 times in standard length; interorbital area flat; preopercle rounded, with a shallow notch above the angle; upper limb finely serrate, the serrae at angle moderately enlarged, the lower edge fleshy; subopercle and interopercle smooth; nostrils small, subequal; maxilla scaly, reaching to or beyond vertical at rear edge of eye. Gill rakers 7 to 9 on upper limb, 16 to 18 on lower limb, 23 to 27 total.